Participatory Budgeting and the CPC

Yesterday I spent most of the day with a group of Citizen Power Council (CPC) members as they prepared themselves for the municipal budget meeting, in which all citizens are invited to participate in budget decisions in a town hall meeting type forum. Here are some pictures from the Jinotegan neighborhood and the budget meeting.

The number of churches per capita in Nicaragua is very high. There were at least two in this little, poor neighborhood.

Some typical homes in Jinotega.

This poor home flies a Sandinista flag (red and black).

The CPC gathered an hour before the meeting began. Men and women, old and young, all united to make their needs known to the mayor and city council.

Ligia, the woman in the white hat and clipboard, is the General Coordinator for this neighborhood's CPC. She is obviously well respected among her fellow neighbors. Both men and women came running to be on time. She told them how important it is for them to walk together and sit together in the front of the auditorium. 'United means?' she yelled, 'Strength!' the group of 50 people echoed back.

This sign demands that home titles be in the name of women. Many times women spend most of their lives raising children and running the household only to be kicked out by their husbands later on. Without the deed, women have no legal rights in these cases, particularly because they have no income of their own and cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.

The sign on the left says, 'With the FSLN in city council, progress comes day by day.' The sign on the right says, 'Neighborhood German Pomares calls its presence in this budget meeting.'
Walking somewhat 'united' to the meeting as a group.

Lining up outside the auditorium to register. My 'guide,' Guillermo is in the white T-shirt and black pants in the center.

In the budget meeting, there was one other group that was well organized too. This sign reads, 'If this government is of the poor, we need it to respond to us: WE ARE THE POOR!'

Here the Mayor of Jinotega addresses the attendees.

Another shot at the size of the crowd. There was only standing room by the time everything got started.